ernestfortier
Palmdale, Calif.
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Here in California you CAN get a ticket for leaving your ball hitch in place. What they write the ticket for is obstruction of the license plate.
Ernie Fortier
99 Bounder 34V
2 honda 2K paralled (for economy)
5.5 Onan onboard
96 Geo Tracker 4x4 Auto. convertable
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dave54
Northeast CA.
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Joined: 02/12/2004
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ernestfortier wrote:Here in California you CAN get a ticket for leaving your ball hitch in place. What they write the ticket for is obstruction of the license plate.
That's 'officer discretion'. A CHP once wrote me a fix it ticket for an obscured license plate on a factory bumper. I took it to another CHP officer who immediately signed it off, saying it's a factory bumper.
Any cop that writes a ticket for a ball hitch obscuring a license is being anally retentive, or way behind on his quota (please, no cops posting back claiming there is no quota. We both know the truth).
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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I lock mine on.
It is only in when on vacation, but then it stays in even when we are unhooked. Too heavy for me to play with (I use a floor jack to remove and install it at home). No tickets yet in USA or Canada.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Fortkentdad
Alberta Canada
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wow, never thought this issue would generate 4 pages...
BTW the cost of many things is a lot higher north of the border. The price is for the Husky Centre Line hitch assembly, listed at $759, before ball, and does not include the bars ($109 for the bars). Not something I'd like to replace anytime soon. Just bought it.
It is locked on with a locking pin now.
Fort Kent Dad aka FKD
Fort Kent, Alberta Canada
09 Rockwell 8319SS
2010 Dodge 2500 CTD Mega Cab, 4x4, Loaded Laramie
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Wrace
Seattle WA
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I leave my stinger in as I tow a couple of different trailers with it, not just the TT. Really no sense in taking the thing in and out all the time. I've had two low speed rear-end collisions and the hitch head protected the bumper just fine.
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DoneBeenCamping
AZ
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Joined: 06/07/2010
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Wrace wrote:I leave my stinger in as I tow a couple of different trailers with it, not just the TT. Really no sense in taking the thing in and out all the time. I've had two low speed rear-end collisions and the hitch head protected the bumper just fine.
I had a low speed rearend collision that damaged the step I had in the receiver tube. The insurance company for the party that hit me paid for a whole new hitch and their logic was that there was a possibility that the hitch welds may have been damaged. I doubt that was true but .... if that is a possibility you might want to have yours checked.
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MacRoadie
Orange County, CA
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Joined: 11/21/2005
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adamroof wrote:behind a very secure CH751-A key.
The super top-secret, CIA-approved CH751-A key...
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LT Crew, 6.0 Vortec, 4.10
2011 Keystone Cougar 26BHSWE
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MacRoadie
Orange County, CA
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Joined: 11/21/2005
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dave54 wrote:
That's 'officer discretion'. A CHP once wrote me a fix it ticket for an obscured license plate on a factory bumper. I took it to another CHP officer who immediately signed it off, saying it's a factory bumper.
I take mine out because it blocks the backup assist and disables the feature (and causes an endless stream of alarms to that effect).
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TexasBorn
Amarillo Texas
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$900 hitch!?!?!?! What in the heck kinda hitch do you have?
Looked up your hitch online, Hope it drives the TV and rubs your back too. Seams a little high in the ole price range. But I am sure its REAL nice.
2007 Outback 29BHS TT
2004 F350 DRW PSD, 4 Door, 4X4, 4.11
"You can never have enough truck or power"
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RustySocket
SW Washington
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Joined: 03/02/2005
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Fortkentdad wrote:I was in town with my truck, and had the hitch assembly sticking out under my bumper. A friend said two things, one was that I was giving away a $900 hitch - unless I bought a locking pin - which I did. He also said I could get a ticket because it was illegal to have the hitch assembly on like that - without the trailer. Never heard tell of such a thing - and see lots of trucks with hitch shank and ball attached (not too many with as big a hitch assembly as I have with the Husky Centre Line but still). This information was confirmed by another person.
Is this the case in the USA?
I have recieved a ticket in WA state for my stinger blocking view of my liscense plate. I succesfully plead not guilty and brought in pictures showing that you could indeed see the liscense plate, the officer failed to show and the ticket was dismissed. It was a BS stop anyway..... and I definately failed the attitude test which was why I got written.
I also have had a stinger stolen from my truck as well...... which leads to why I got the ticket.... the new one was locked in. I was in a business suit for a meeting, it was pouring down rain and I refused the officers request to get out unlock it and put it in the truck. Pretty much told him I wasn't going to get wet on my way to the meeting and "do what you gotta do".
So yes, you can get a ticket for your liscense plate being blocked by the hitch, and yes there are *******s out there who will steal them.
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